Abstract
The principles and practice of a Behaviour Modification Unit in a psychiatric hospital are described. A simple but consistent program of rewards related to privileges is employed together with attention to individual counselling and family therapy. A consecutive series of 56 patients is reported. They had a high frequency of personality disorders, behaviour disorders and past psychiatric treatment irrespective of diagnosis. Improvement was measured in terms of success, three months after discharge, in staying out of hospital and maintaining an independent existence in the community. By this criterion 42 out of 56 patients (75%) were improved. Patients who improved had had less past treatment of various types and this relationship was highly significant.
The justification for this type of program is briefly discussed.